National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has adjourned the house session till Monday, without tabling of the no-confidence resolution against Prime Minister Imran Khan, following the parliamentary tradition on a parliamentarian’s death.
The august house had offered prayers for the deceased MNA Khayal Zaman. Ruling party ministers, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Shireen Mazari were among those attending the session, as well as Grand Democratic Alliance’s Dr Fehmida Mirza.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, PPP Chairman Bilalwal Bhutto Zardari and PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, were also present, from the opposition ranks.
"Just because it is this house's tradition that when an honourable member of parliament passes away, that day's agenda is adjourned till the next day and this is an old tradition. Almost 24 times, the session has been adjourned on the death of serving lawmaker," NA Speaker Asad Qaiser said while reading the order.
He added that the august house would continue the same tradition for Friday's session. "Yes, I will conduct the house business as per the rules of Constitution and assembly. The house has been adjourned to meet again on Monday, March 28, at 4pm," Qaiser said.
The lower house of parliament was all set to take up several agendas to discuss – including the no-trust resolution against PM Imran – as the “fateful” lower house of parliament session demanded lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to ensure their full attendance.
Opposition's warning
PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari upon his at the National Assembly had warned of ruckus in the National Assembly if the house speaker did not allow to table the no-confidence resolution against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
"Hopefully, If my maula wanted, I am 100 per cent confident," he said in an informal chat with reporters while on his way to the assembly hall. To a query over non-democratic forces taking advantage of the current political situation, he said: "If anyone has so much interest so come and manage."
He had also expressed hope that things would be better. Moreover, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had declared the session as the "day of their victory" and the joint opposition was seeing the no-confidence motion on the agenda after three years of efforts. "The public will win and the selected will lose. We are making our effort, victory or defeat is in the hands of God," he said, alleging that the premier had lost his majority in parliament.
In addition to this, Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif in an informal chat with reporters has claimed to have more than the required numbers to oust the premier.
15-point ‘orders of the day’
NA Speaker Asad Qaiser had summoned the lower house of parliament session on March 25 on the requisition of the opposition, which has sought the tabling of the no-confidence motion against PM Imran in the house session. However, the resolution might not be tabled for discussion on Friday.
In a tweet, the National Assembly Secretariat on Thursday issued a 15-point ‘orders of the day’ for the NA session. But it is expected that normal house proceedings will not be held on the first day of the sitting because of the death of MNA Khayal Zaman. It is a parliamentary convention that the first sitting after the death of an MNA is limited to prayers for the soul of the departed. It is also the NA speaker’s discretion as to whether to continue the session or not after fateha for the deceased lawmaker.
Sources told Aaj News that the NA speaker was “expected” to delay the lower house of parliament session by converting the session into a condolence reference due to the death of MNA Khayal Zaman. Such a development would prompt a strong protest from the united opposition, which jointly submitted the motion and the requisition to the NA speaker on March 8.
As many as 147 parliamentarians have signed the motion. “This House is of the view that the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Imran Khan, has lost the confidence of the majority of the members of the National Assembly of Pakistan, therefore he should cease to hold office,” read the order.
On allowing the requisition, around 152 lawmakers will the no-confidence motion against PM Imran
Moreover, strict security measures have been taken in Islamabad. Interior Minister earlier this week said that as many as 15,000 security personnel – including 2,000 Frontier Corps and Rangers personnel – have been deployed in the federal capital to ensure order. He has warned of political parties creating any instability.
According to the special instructions issued by NA Speaker Qaiser, shuttle service will be provided to lawmakers from the parliament house to the parliament lodges as the entry of personal vehicles will only be allowed to park at the given space. In addition to this, the secretariat has also directed the assembly staff to stay in their office premises. And, the entry of security guards and guests will also be prohibited.
Number Game
As things stands, there are currently 340 members in the 342-member National Assembly.
The ruling PTI has 156 seats with its allies having 22 seats. The breakdown of the number of seats in the NA is as follows:
The government has the support of 178 members.
Opposition seats in NA
PML-N - 84PPP - 56MMA - 15BNP - 4ANP - 1Independents - 2 (Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar)
The opposition has the support of 164 lawmakers
The issue isn't limited to the Centre as there is discontent over Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar's performance, with allies led by the Aleem Khan and Jehangir Tareen factions with the support of PML-Q seeking his removal.
Punjab Assembly
PTI - 183PML-Q - 10Total: 193 seats
Opposition in PA
PML-N - 165 PPP - 7 Total: 172 seats
Others
Independent lawmakers - 5Rah-e-Haq Party - 1
